Systems, methods, and software for using markers on channel signals to control electronic program guides and recording devices

ABSTRACT

Convergence systems, or PC-TV systems, provide the combined benefits of a computer system and a television. These systems typically include audio/video recorders, such as VCRs, for recording programs, as well as an electronic program guide (EPG) for presenting program information. The present invention provides methods and devices for detecting specific signals or markers associated with a program or channel signal, and then enabling a recording device or an EPG to perform an act, such as recording a program, based upon the detected signals or markers. In a preferred embodiment, the system receives a channel signal, detects a program start or stop marker within the signal, and controls the EPG or the recording device to perform acts corresponding to the detection of a start or stop instruction.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns information handling systems, and morespecifically, interaction between personal computer/televisionconvergence systems, electronic program guides (EPGs), and audio/videorecording devices.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The home electronics industry, in the midst of an ongoing convergence oftelevisions and computers, has produced a new class of products, knownas personal computer/television systems, or PC-TV systems. In theirsimplest form, these systems allow users to selectively switch betweenusing a video monitor or display to watch television, or to supportcomputer activities like word processing, creating spread sheets,playing computer games, or even surfing the internet. A seminal example,the Gateway Destination PC-TV system, from Gateway Inc., not only weds atelevision to a personal computer, but allows system expansion toreceive programming from internal sources, such as video-cassetterecorders (VCRs), digital versatile disk (DVD) players, laser diskplayers, and video cameras, as well as from external sources, such ascable, direct-broadcast satellite, etc.

The Destination, and other such systems, additionally include anautomatic recording feature which allows users to instruct VCRs toautomatically record specific upcoming television programs, days, weeks,or even months before they actually occur. The instructions typicallydesignate a channel, a start time, and an end time, and the system logs,or registers, the instructions for future execution. Once registered,the system automatically selects the designated channel, as well as thestarting and ending the recording at the designated times.

With the growth in the number of video channels, particularly cable andsatellite television channels, many PC-TV systems now include anelectronic program guide—a database listing available televisionchannels and their program schedules. In these systems, an EPG operatesas a user-prompted menu system, which logically organizes and displaysthousands of program options. Typically, the user uses a wireless remotecontrol to prompt display of EPG data, such as name, start time and endtime, for a program currently being viewed. When the current programends, the user, again using the remote control, can prompt display ofEPG data for the next program. Additionally, the user can scroll througha listing of programs in the EPG data and select a program for recordingusing a record command. Selecting the record command automaticallyprograms a VCR coupled to the EPG with the necessary channel, starttime, and end time information.

Despite the utility and convenience of the EPG itself and itsVCR-programming capability, PC-TV systems still suffer from at least twoproblems. The first problem is that the initiation of an EPG datadisplay for any given program requires user input. This requirementtypically means that the EPG is generally underemployed. The secondproblem is that the VCR clock that controls the starting and stopping ofrecording is too often either a few minutes behind or a few minutesahead of the clock of a television broadcaster. Under these conditions,the VCR programmed to record a program either starts and stops recordingbefore a desired program does, or starts and stops recording after theprogram does so. In either case, the resulting recording misses aportion of the desired program.

The user can ameliorate the recording timing problem in two ways. First,the user can program the VCR to start recording a few minutes earlierand end recording a few minutes later to ensure recording of the entireprogram, but this is generally inconvenient and wasteful of recordingtape. And second, the user can spend extra time and effort to ensuresynchronization of the VCR clock with the television broadcast clock.Although these measures often successfully avoid the timing problem,they generally fail when a broadcaster delays or interrupts a scheduledprogram with unscheduled programming, such as a special news report, orwhen a broadcaster lets a scheduled program, such an overtime footballor basketball game, runs past its scheduled end time.

Accordingly, there is a need for a better way of controlling display oroutput of EPG data and a better way of controlling VCRs and otherrecording devices to record desired programming.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To address these and other problems, the present invention comprisesmethods and devices that detect specific signals or markers associatedwith a broadcast signal, and operate a recording device or an EPG basedupon the detected signals or markers. Specifically, one exemplary methodentails receiving a broadcast signal, detecting a program start or stopmarker within the signal, and controlling the EPG or the recordingdevice based upon this program start or stop marker information.

More specifically, operating the EPG entails initiating display oroutput of a first data set associated with a program upon detection ofthe program start marker, and initiating display of a second data setassociated with another program upon detection of the program stopmarker. Operating the recording device entails starting a recording of aprogram upon detection of the start marker, and stopping recording upondetection of the end marker.

Other embodiments, aspects, and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent after considering the accompanying drawings and the followingdetailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an exemplary PC-TV system incorporating thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating exemplary operation of an EPG withinthe system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3A is a diagram of an exemplary EPG display generated by the systemin FIG. 1 in accord with the present invention; and

FIG. 3B is a diagram of another exemplary EPG display generated by thesystem in FIG. 1 in accord with the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following detailed description, which references and incorporatesFIGS. 1-3B, describes and illustrates specific embodiments of theinvention. These embodiments, offered not to limit but only to exemplifyand teach the invention, are shown and described in sufficient detail toenable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. Thus, whereappropriate to avoid obscuring the invention, the description may omitcertain information known to those of skill in the art.

FIG. 1 shows an information handling system comprising a convergence (orPC-TV) system 100 in accord with the invention. Specifically, PC-TVsystem 100, which in a preferred embodiment, incorporates features ofthe Destination PC-TV system from Gateway, Inc., includes a monitor 110,a tuner-receiver 120, a personal computer 130, and a detector 140.

Monitor 110, the heart of the system from a user perspective, plays ordisplays video programming from the tuner-receiver 120 and/or personalcomputer 130. Monitor 110 includes an EPG display 110A for displayingEPG information. Monitor 110 also includes built-in audio speakers (notshown) for outputting audible signals, including audible EPG signals. Tofacilitate audible EPG signals, the system includes a toggle or mixingcircuit (not shown) to allow for output of EPG audio over, or in placeof, normal program audio.

Tuner-receiver 120 receives analog or digital channel signals via directconnection or wireless coupling to a multi-channel programming source.The signals for a given channel carry a scheduled or unscheduledsequence of programs, or programming events. In an exemplary embodiment,tuner-receiver 120 accepts digital or analog cable television signals,local over-the-air broadcast signals, and direct satellite televisionsignals. Exemplary signals that tuner-receiver 120 can receive include aprogram or channel signal 10 with embedded markers 10 a and 10 b and/ora parallel channel signal 20 with embedded markers 20 a and 20 b. In anexemplary embodiment, markers 10 a and 10 b and markers 20 a and 20 bidentify the respective beginning and end of a program on channel signal10 and 20 respectively.

Computer 130, operatively coupled to monitor 110 and tuner-receiver 120,includes a processor 131, a local memory 132, mass data storage devices133 and 134, a modem 135, a clock 136, and a set of user interfacedevices 137. Modem 135, and other available means of communication, arecapable of supporting apparatus and/or software (not shown), such asstreaming-media players for any current or future format.

Interface devices 137 include a keyboard or keypad 137A, a mouse orother pointing device 137B, and a microphone 137C, all of which supportuser interaction with a graphical user interface, such as the Windowsoperating system from Microsoft. In some embodiments, one or more of theinterface devices 137 may be wireless.

Mass data storage device 133, for example a computer-controllable videocassette recorder (VCR), a hard drive, or other recording device,records audio, video, or digital data on a read-write, data-storagemedium, such as a magnetic recording tape. However, the inventionencompasses any device capable of recording data, whether in analog ordigital form.

Mass data storage device 134 may include one or more hard drives, andstore an electronic program guide (EPG) software 134A and relateddatabase 134B, as well as recording-device-control software 134C. EPGsoftware 134A and recording-control software 134C cooperate withdetector 140 to respectively control EPG display 110 a and mass storagedevice 133.

Detector 140, which is operatively coupled to receive a version ofchannel signal 10 and/or channel signal 20 from tuner-receiver 120 ormodem 135, identifies and decodes markers 10A and 10B and/or markers 20Aand 20B. In one embodiment, these markers are contained in verticalblanking intervals (VBIs) of a television channel signal. In another,they are contained in digital data packets of a digital televisionsignal or a digital media stream received via modem 135, which iscoupled through a local or wide area network to a provider ofprogramming marked in accord with the invention. In still otherembodiments, the markers are carried by a digital or analogcommunication channel, such as signal 20, that is distinct from channelsignal 10, but that provides markers synchronized with the programs ofchannel signal 10.

In general operation, system 100 receives channel signal 10 and/orchannel signal 20 via tuner-receiver 120 or modem 135. Detector 140identifies a marker 10A, using identification information embeddedwithin the marker and/or using logical or contextual inference based onthe channel and time information within EPG database 134B, as a startmarker for a given program. Once a marker is identified and/or decoded,detector 140 sends a signal to computer 130, which directs EPG softwareto output EPG data to EPG display 110A and/or directs mass storagedevice 133 to start or stop recording a program scheduled for recording.

More particularly, FIG. 2 shows an exemplary method of operation in atleast a portion of EPG software 134A. The method begins at block 202with receipt of channel signals 10 and/or 20. Channel signal 20, whichis generally unnecessary if channel signal 10 includes markers 10A and10B, is a shadow signal that provides markers for programs on channelsignal 10. Execution of the exemplary method then proceeds to processblock 204.

Process block 204 determines whether detector 140 has identified anymarkers associated with channel signals 10 and 20. If no markers havebeen detected, then the method loops back to block 202. However, if amarker has been detected, execution proceeds to decision block 206.

In decision block 206, the system determines whether the detected markeris a program start marker. The exemplary embodiment assumes the markeris either a program start marker or a program stop marker. However,other embodiments check for alternative types of markers, such ascommercial start and stop markers, which would bracket a commercialoccurring during a program. Embodiments that check for commercialmarkers can mark the location of commercials on recording media and/orskip initial recording of the commercials, or provide a commercial-onlyrecording mode. Embodiments that accept streaming media check for a widevariety of markers consistent with the format of the a given mediastream, one or more of which can be validly interpreted to controloperation of an EPG or a recording device. The streaming media canassume any available or future streaming media format. Media formattedaccording to Hypertext Markup Language (HTML), a Virtual HypertextMarkup Language (VHTML), or X Mark-up Language (XML) can also beprocessed in alternative embodiments of the invention. In any case, ifthe detected marker is a program start marker, execution branches todecision block 208.

Decision block 208 determines whether the current program associatedwith the start marker is scheduled for recording. In an exemplaryembodiment, this entails consulting a scheduling database associatedwith recording-device-control software 134C, for example, EPG database134B. If the program associated with the start marker is scheduled forrecording, execution proceeds to process block 210, which starts therecording. In some embodiments, the start marker precedes actualstarting of the program by some predetermined time period, such as 5 or10 seconds, or by a time period indicated in the marker itself. If themarker does proceed the start in this fashion, these embodiments queuethe recording device to start at an appropriate time to capture at leastthe actual start of the program. After block 210, execution returns toblock 202.

If decision block 208 determines that the program associated with thedetected start marker is not scheduled for recording, execution proceedsto process block 212, which outputs at least a portion of any EPG datafor the program associated with program start marker. In an exemplaryembodiment, this specifically entails searching EPG database 134B (or aremote database on another network accessible computer) based onavailable channel and time information, or based on other informationprovided in or with the program start marker, such as a programidentifier. In any event, once the appropriate data (which can take awide variety of forms, such as text, audio, and/or video information) islocated, the EPG software directs its output at one or more appropriateportions on the monitor 110, such as EPG display 110A. Execution thenreturns to block 202.

At block 206, if the detected marker is determined not to be a startmarker, but instead to be a program stop marker for its associatedprogram, execution branches or proceeds to decision block 214. At thisdecision block, the exemplary embodiment determines whether the programassociated with the detected stop marker is currently being recorded bythe system. One way of determining this is to check the status of massstorage device 133 or any other recording devices coupled to system 100.If the program associated with the program start is currently beingrecorded, execution proceeds to block 216 to stop the recording.

In some embodiments, the stop marker precedes actual stopping of itsassociated program by some predetermined time period, such as 5 or 10seconds, or by a time period indicated in the marker itself. If themarker does proceed the stop in this fashion, these embodiments queuethe recording device to stop at an appropriate time to ensure capture ofat least the end of the program.

If the program (or programs) associated with the stop marker are beingrecorded, and after execution of block 216, the exemplary methodcontinues with execution of process block 218. Block 218 outputs thenext EPG data, i.e., outputs at least a portion of any EPG associatedwith the program following the program associated with the program stopmarker on the current channel.

FIGS. 3A and 3B show respective examples of first EPG display 300A for acurrent program which the system outputs upon detection of a programstart marker, and a second EPG display 300B which the system displaysafter detection of a program stop marker for the current program.Displays 300A and 300B, which also function as graphical user interfacesto EPG data, include respective affiliated data areas 302A and 302B,media area 304A and 304B, preview selection areas 306A and 306B, andback-channel access areas 308A and 308B. Affiliated data areas 302A and302B display data provided by local network affiliates or cableproviders, such as local weather conditions or promotional information.Media areas 304A and 304B display video information, such as programtrailers contained within EPG database 134B or imported in real time asstreaming media via modem 135. Notably, media area 304A displays a mediaclip, such a program trailer, for Dateline NBC, the current program,upon detection of a program start marker. On the other hand, media area304B which is displayed automatically (that is, without user initiation)upon detection of program stop marker for Dateline NBC, displays a mediaclip for Homicide, which is the program indicated as following afterDateline NBC in FIG. 3B. Selection areas 306A and 306B permit selectionof specific EPG data, and back-channel access areas 308A and 308Bfacilitate access to internet sites related to specific channels orprograms.

The preferred embodiments described above are intended only toillustrate and teach one or more ways of practicing or implementing thepresent invention, not to restrict its breadth or scope. The scope ofthe invention, intended to encompass all ways of practicing orimplementing the principles of the invention, is defined only by thefollowing claims and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of operating an electronic program guidehaving at least a first and a second operating state, comprising:receiving a channel signal carrying audio or video information;detecting a first program marker in the channel signal; and changing theoperating state of the electronic program guide from the first operatingstate to the second operating state in response to detection of thefirst program marker, wherein operating in the first operating stateincludes outputting at least a portion of a first data set in theprogram guide for a first program and operating in the second operatingstate includes outputting at least a portion of a second data set in theprogram guide for a second program.
 2. The method of claim 1, whereinthe channel signal comprises analog or digital data.
 3. A method ofoperating a system comprising an electronic program guide (EPG) havingat least a first and a second program data set and a recording device,the method further comprising: receiving a channel signal carrying audioor video information; detecting a program start marker in the channelsignal or in a signal associated with the channel signal; displaying thefirst program data set of the EPG in response to detection of theprogram start marker; beginning a recording of the channel signal inresponse to detection of the program start marker; detecting a programstop marker in the channel signal or in a signal associated with thechannel signal; displaying the second program data set of the EPG inresponse to detection of the program stop marker; and stopping therecording of the channel signal in response to detection of the programstop marker.
 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the channel signalcomprises analog or digital data.
 5. The method of claim 3, wherein thechannel signal is a digital television broadcasting signal.
 6. Themethod of claim 3, wherein the program start marker or the program stopmarker is defined within one or more vertical blanking intervals.
 7. Themethod of claim 3, wherein at least one of the program start marker andthe program stop marker is carried on a digital signal distinct from thechannel signal.
 8. A computer-readable medium for assisting in operatingan electronic program guide recording device, the medium comprising: oneor more code segments for facilitating detection of a program marker ina channel signal or in a signal associated with the channel signal; andone or more code segments for facilitating changing the operating stateof the recording device from a first operating state to a secondoperating state in response to detection of the program marker, whereinoperating in the first operating state includes outputting at least aportion of a first data set in the program guide for a first program andoperating in the second operating state includes outputting at least aportion of a second data set in the program guide for a second program.9. The medium of claim 8, wherein the first and second programs arecarried by the channel signal, and the first program precedes the secondprogram.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and secondprograms are carried by the channel signal, and the first programprecedes the second program.
 11. The method of claim 1, whereinoutputting the first or second data set includes displaying at least oneof: an affiliated data area which provides local weather information orpromotional information; a media area which provides a program trailerfor the second program; and a back-channel access area which providesaccess to Internet sites related to the first or the second program. 12.The method of claim 3, wherein the first data set and the second dataare associated with respective first and second programs carried by thechannel signal, and the first program precedes the second program. 13.The method of claim 3, wherein outputting the first or second data setincludes displaying at least one of: an affiliated data area whichprovides local weather information or promotional information; a mediaarea which provides a program trailer for the second program; and aback-channel access area which provides access to Internet sites relatedto the first or the second program.
 14. Apparatus comprising: means forreceiving a channel signal carrying audio or video information; meansfor detecting a first program marker in the channel signal; and meansfor changing the operating state of an electronic program guide from afirst operating state which includes outputting at least a portion of afirst data set in the program guide for a first program and to a secondoperating state which includes outputting at least a portion of a seconddata set in the program guide for a second program.
 15. The apparatus ofclaim 14, wherein the first data set and the second data are associatedwith respective first and second programs carried by the channel signal,and the first program precedes the second program.
 16. The apparatus ofclaim 14, wherein outputting the first or second data set includesdisplaying at least one of: an affiliated data area which provides localweather information or promotional information; a media area whichprovides a program trailer for the second program; and a back-channelaccess area which provides access to Internet sites related to the firstor the second program.